Elegance! Weirdness! And Into the Woods We Go! (Closed: Steel)

[Elderflower]

 

If there was one thing about Equestria that was proving impossible to adjust to, it was the train. Culture shock was to be anticipated when a native of Neighpon ventured out into the wide world, but this was a nightmare. It was loud and clunky and so unsteady! Each chugga-chug sent Higanbana lurching forward or backward in her seat, waking her from her dreams of lovely, quiet, gliding Maglev trains. Ahhh, to be back in Polohama, surrounded by the ease and grace of a world enhanced with magitech. Truly, no city could be as remarkable for as dazzling as her Polohama!

In a moment such as this, it was easy for a sweet little kirin like Ban-chan to wish she had been blessed with the wings of a ryuma. After all, her stubbychubby little horns were already so unlike the typical antlers found on kirin. She was already so like a winged creature, why not give her the wings? At least that way she wouldn’t have to ride a bumpy train!

“AM I SWEET AND DELICIOUS?”

The adorable mare smiled down at the disruption. Mochi was his name, or Mochi XXIX to be specific. This darling little cyclops panda, brought to life with magic and enchanted with preservation spells to extend its shelf life, was her beloved golem. Specifically, Mochi and every previous iteration of Mochi are all dessert golems, designed to be eaten and enjoyed! With his blushing pink colours and the exposed, rounded power core that appeared as a cyclops eye, well, he was just the adorablest golem around!

“You are sweet and delicious, my darling Chi-chan!” Higanbana exclaimed, picking up and hugging her squishy, sweet darling-

Right as the train lurched to a stop, sending her tumbling off of her seat. Oof. But that meant she was finally here! In Ponyville! Excitedly, the bright red mare hopped onto her hooves, popped on her obnoxiously large and pink polkadot sunglasses, tossed the teddy-sized Chi-chan onto her head, and trotted off the train! After making a brief stop to grab her suitcase (a very large suitcase covered in a very creepy eyeball pattern which she pulled around using a harness), Higanbana bounced along on her way to a very important appointment!

It took some time, but eventually the idol found herself standing before the door of Carousel Boutique! This was it! Her consultation with Rarity, a fashion designer making some serious waves in Equestria! When Higanbana had asked her managed to scout Equestrian designers for her next big live show, she had been absolutely dazzled by the elegance and shininess of Rarity’s designs. She was aiming for a real Equestrian influence in her costumes, and if she could make it work with Rarity, she just knew the combination of her weirdness and the unicorn’s gorgeous creations would be a huge hit in Neighpon!

So now was the time! The adorable little idol, with her cute shades, her weird suitcase, and the “living” dessert sitting comfortably on her head, knocked on the door of Carousel Boutique.

[SteelEagle]

 

Rarity's client list was one of the most eclectic things artistically about her. Politicians and pop stars, heroes, heroines, and criminals alike. Historians and the astronomers with a hint of flair about them? Check. World class athletes needing that extra pep to their look? Of course. Not to mention thousands of normal everday ponies and high society of all flavors. She had to ensure that everypony in Equestria was able to look as fabulous as possible at all times, and allow the inner beauty that was within all to be displayed most exquisitely. The love of art was what drove her to make so many designs for so many types! Most dressmakers and designers found a niche. As far as Rarity was concerned her niche was Equestrian mares and stallions of all stripes, and she was proud to serve them all.

 

Of course her eye did tend to wander over towards bigger names and more enticing projects. When word reached her that a Neighpon idle was looking for a more Equestrian flair for her next tour or something similar, Rarity started working her contacts and agents as best she could. Luckily she had the best contact possible, a Princess, and knew she would stand a chance. But when she heard who this idol was...and where she wss from, more importantly...she knew that it was DESTINY that she be her dressmaker! Higanbana was one of the most popular and pocket sized idols in the world. The Forest of the Forsaken, according to the stories Twilight spoke of as if they were myths, had several points of interest for her. The one that stuck out most to her was the legend that any stallion sent there could be turned into a mare...

 

"Valen, dear, could you place those fabrics over on the desk and then go finish that documentation for me?" Rarity asked her young assistant/super model extraordinaire, Valen Orange. Or as she preferred to think, Summer Skies.
"It would be a pleasure," the colt replied, joyfully bounding away. He enjoyed helping Rarity out as it helped keep him ensconced in the wonderful world of fashion with his friend, and one of the greatest designers in the whole of Equestria.
Rarity watched him place the fabrics in position and then counted the steps, one by one, until she was sure he was in the office. Door locked. Good. That would keep him busy for maybe...fifteen minutes? "Alright Rarity. Time to put your game face on!" She said to herself, her smirk catching a bit of aggression in it. She had two main goals today. The first was most important to her and was the main driving force of today's meeting: Help this wonderful idol get a good sense of Equestrian fashion and se just how much Rarity could help. The second was more dramatic and exciting, however: See if she could help that colt up there become what she was always meant to be.

 

There was a knock on the front door and Rarity knew instinctually that it was her client. "Okay, Rarity. A-game!" She reminded herself before trotting over to open the door, eyes closed. "Oh, welcome-" she started, eyes opening. No Higbana? She looked down. There was Higbana. She was the size of a filly. A bigger filly perhaps, but one nonetheless. "-to the Carousel Boutique, Miss Higabana! Oh, and who is this darling little creature?" She asked, faintly aware of what it was but only such. She beckoned the pair in. "Come in, come in dear! Out of the hustle and bustle and into a more creative, expressive place!"

[Elderflower]

 

The moment Rarity opened the door to the boutique, Higanbana lit up. From behind her thick shades her eyes widened and she nearly wiggled with excitement- except. Oh...Rarity didn’t notice her? She wiggled harder, until finally the gorgeous and stylish fashionista looked down and spotted the Neighponese idol sensation.

“Ohayo, Rarity-san!” Ban-chan piped up, pulling off her sunglasses. It was still morning, right? Close enough, at the very least, “Thanks for having me!”

Higanbana’s Equestrian was good, but she definitely had a thick accent. When she bounced in, pulling her suitcase behind her, the kirin couldn’t help but notice the fresh, clean scent of the shop. Carousel Boutique must certainly be well cared for, and judging by its appearance and the fresh, bright atmosphere...Rarity was a perfectionist.

Excellent.

“My golem is Mochi! Or Chi-chan,” the idol finally replied, whirling around and causing her dessert golem to tumble onto the floor, “You can have bite if you’d like!”

Chi-chan peered up at the two mares with his single “eye.”

“SWEET AND DELICIOUS,” he added with a little golem nod.

“Yes, Chi-chan! You are! Always. But more important…” the mare rounded on Rarity, positively dazzling with a rush of creative energy, “Let’s start working! I hope we’ll be compatible. Your designs are so lovely and I want to wear them on stage!”

[SteelEagle]

 

She really was an adorable Neighponese idol, even when the cameras were off. That was a relief! So many artists held within themselves the spirit of a chimera and fluttered from form to form depending on the publicity of the moment. Miss Higabana, on the other hoof, was as honest and upbeat as the Celestian sun over the beach. And just as inviting, too, her personality bubbling with the energetic discharge that youthful celebrity could impart upon the creatively inclined. This would either make the work they were doing really easy or it would make it very difficult- not only in terms of outfits and dresses but in Rarity's more personal, slightly unsavory (if absolutely well intentioned) mission. She'd have to go ahead and listen to more of those audio recordings and see a few of the taped shows at the projection theater sometime.

 

"Pleasure to meet you Miss Higbana and...Mochi. I am so pleased to meet the both of you!" she said, hiding her awkwardness regarding the golem well. She was aware of their existence but it truly was a weird sight in-pony. Charming in its overabundance of energy, just like its owner, but Rarity found it almost as creepy. Almost. "Oh, that's quite alright. I have already eaten quite enough so far!" Rarity ended with a laugh. It was mostly a lie. She could go for a bite to eat. What she wouldn't want to bite or eat or a combination therein was a sentient being, even if it was single-minded in its devotion to wanting to be eaten. If she was in Neighpon then perhaps she would treat it differently. But here in her Boutique? Well, when in Roam, do as the Roamans.

 

And when in the Boutique, do as the Fashionista.

"Well, let's see what we have for you, my dear. I'll say beforehoof that these are all simply bases upon which we will form something amazing, just for you," she said, her glasses levitating into place as she pulled back the curtain on no less than half a dozen designs. She had seen enough pictures and a few of the short songs on projector to get an idea of what she liked, and did her best to give the idol a unique taste of Equestrian glamour filtered through the demands of a Neighponese idol performer. "As you can see, we are starting with form AND function- free flowing at the bottom, stricter up top, with various coloration and embellishments. Here is a rather bold piece- the fabric and colors are interlocked with beautiful gemstones, creating a seamless, glittering appearance of silver and pink. This..." she continued for some time, going into detail about the basic designs.

 

"Well, that is that. I had a great helper- a filly model by the name of Gilded Lilly," she said, then pitched her voice up, "Oh DEEE-AAAAR, could you come down heeeere-?" Rarity crooned. The sound of quick hoofsteps followed soon after. "She really is a dear. So, tell me about YOUR ideas!"

[Elderflower]

 

The moment the curtain was drawn, Higanbana’s eyes grew wide and sparkled like the rising sun. Wow! She all but wiggled in spot as she took in the elegant site of Rarity’s designs...and these were just bases? No wonder her name was snowballing its way through every Equestrian design magazine! There was no doubt in the pop idol’s mind that she had made the right choice in going with Rarity…

There was, however, that small nagging voice in the back of her head. These designs were very Rarity...but where was the Higanbana of it all? She did, after all, have a signature style...but that’s exactly what this meeting was about. Seeing what Rarity had to offer, and presenting her own ideas to see how they could bring them together.

“Ooo, Rarity-san!” she piped up, grabbing Chi-chan off her head and hugging him tightly, causing him to let out a bizarre, robotic crooning sound, “These are more than I could have anticipated...so glamourous and sparkly!”

Rarity called out for her helper then, and although curious, Higanbana was too ensorcelled by the mare’s designs to even bother looking to see when the other pony entered the room. Instead, she drew closer to the dresses before her and inspected each of them as closely as possible. The stitching, the glimmer - she had not been prepared for this! The excitement of Rarity’s work had completely banished whatever foul mood the train ride to Ponyville had left the kirin with, and the moment the fashionista reached out for what Higanbana had brought, the mare puffed up her chest proudly and all but hopped towards the glamourous unicorn.

She tossed Chi-chan back on her head and began fishing in her suitcase before pulling out a file folder. Within were piles of images she had compiled while building up some concepts!

“Fashion Monster is the name of the show!” she answered happily, before spreading her concept image across the floor. Countless images of eyeballs and monsters were found within - though not her usual eyeballs. Typically her costumes sported colourful, round, and highly cartoonish eyes. The ones she had within her file folder, however, were much more spooky...shadows with glowing red gazes poking out, slitted snake eyes, and more! “Ban-chan is looking for a more elevated kind of spooky for this show! So the usual macabre style, but less cartoony. More...couture! Which is why I wanted your help so badly, Rarity-san! Your couture is the best!”

She peered over at the design full of gemstones and tilted her adorable little head to one side.

“Gems are a good way to make it work!” she said cheerfully, “Eyeballs within the gemstones maybe? Very spooky! And all of the youkai in these pictures...there isn’t need to be literal, hai? Maybe we could interpret something monster-like in sculptural bodices, or overcoats!”

And then cue the intense blushing, “That is, if you think it would be good, Rarity-san! You are the designer, not Ban-chan!”

[SteelEagle]

 

 

Rarity felt no small amount of pride when the Neighponese idol was almost beside herself with awe at the beauty of her designs. Rarity put so much of her creativity and work into her dresses and designs that when somepony was as taken by them as Bana was, it was as if all that work had been worth it. And she had been validated so often by this that she found any accusations of arrogance quite well earned and backed up. Still, she took so much joy from each and every successful unveiling, honest and unfiltered happiness, that she had a hard time keeping herself even with the client. Her professionalism and focus on improvement helped keep her on track. She was very sure that by the end of the evening Higanbana was going to have herself a series of outfits that would fulfill both her wildest fantasies and most concrete requirements.

 

Higanbana made sure to collect herself quickly and swiftly share with Rarity a collection of ideas she had, well organized and all of it conceptually fitting for her show. Indeed, it was out of Rarity's normal wheel house. She plied her trade at major fashion houses and show with elements focused on beauty and allure, sophistication and glamour. Spooky? No. Horror themes, the grotesque, the creepy and the unnerving? Not at all. But she had also never worked with a Neighponese idol. Today was a long list of firsts for both of them! She too a gander at the ideas. Garishly overdone pieces of grotesque art, each and every one of them. But that was good. Style was different and new and Rarity looked at it as a challenge worthy of the both of them: Equestrian elegance and beauty was going to meet an Idol's fascination with the macabre. The result could only be wonderful, no?

 

"Well, let's take a look- surely, working together, we can come up with a number of outfits worthy of you and your show," she said with not unusual pep in her voice. As she was going over the concept images- spooky monster eyes, eyes everywhere- she started muttering to herself about fabrics, the light catching at the right angle, and what would look best, Valen trotted up. "Yes, Miss Rarity?" the little colt asked. Rarity smiled. "Oh. good you got here so fast, Summer. Please, could you get three cups of tea? Green, please," Rarity asked gently. Valen dutifully bowed and trotted off to do his task, though his face had twisted and he blushed once away. Rarity looked over at her client for the day. "Such a wonderful aide! Too bad about her...condition, though. Anyhoof- what do you think of this?" She asked sweetle, showing Bana a sketch she had made rather quickly. It definitely had the elegance and brilliance of Equestrian fashion, but it surely had the spooky eyes and what have you as well.